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v J. B. KNIOKERBOGKER.

, y DIAPHRAGM METER.

Patented 1360.20, 1892.

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J. B. KNICKERBOGKER.

DIAPHRAGM METER.

No. 488,504. Patented 1360.20, 1892.

:ECCE- @NRM/Lemay.

"` Ninn INDIANA, ASSIGN OR TO THE OF SAME PLACE.

DIAPHRAGNI METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,504, dated December20, 1892. Application filed June 16, 1892. Serial No. 436.978. (Nomodel.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. KNICKER- BOOKER, of Indianapolis, county ofMarion, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new andusefullmprovements in Gas-Meters; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which like ligures refer tolike parts.

My invention relates to the construction of gas or fluid meters, andmore particularly to the spring mechanism for throwing the valves, andis an improvement on the device described and claimed in Letters PatentN o. 468,008, issued to me February 2, 1892.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my device. Fig. 2is a central cross section of the same on the line frx, Fig. 1. Fig. 3is an enlarged top View of the spring mechanism partly broken away.

In detail, (1) is a divided casing having an inlet (2), outlet (3), anda channel or passage Way (f1) for the gas, leading from the inlet to thegas chamber and from thence to the outlet.

(5) is a diaphragm secured between the halves of the casing, dividingthe interior into two chambers (6 and 7). The diaphragm is composed of acentral flexible sheet with metal backing plates (8) on either side, and(9) is a collar notched on opposite sides at (10) to receive thebifurcated arms of the lever (11) which operates the register (12). Thecollar (9) tits snugly over the sleeve (13), which is formed integralwith the plate (14), and passes through the diaphragm, the plate iittingup against the same on one side and the collar (9) on the opposite side,the collar being retained on the sleeve by the nut (15) secured on theend of the same.

(16) is a valve rod which passes loosely through the central openingofthe sleeve (13), the latter being cored out, as shown in Fig. 2, one endonly bearing on the valve rod, the nut (15) performing asimilar officeat the opposite end oi' the sleeve, thus reducing the friction to aminimum.

(17) is a double valve mounted on the valve rod (16) on the inlet sideof the casing, and operating alternately to close the ports (18 and 19)therein, and (20) is a single valve on vvided with brass seats,

the opposite end of the rod, operating in a similar manner on the ports(21 and 22) on the outlet side. The valve ports are all proas shown inFigs. 1 and 2, for reducing the wear by friction.

At either end of the plate (14) are formed brackets (23), and to each ofthese is pivoted the arm (25) having the slot (26). (27) is a a doublebracket rigidly secured to the valve rod at a point a little to one sideof the double valve (17), and to opposite sides of this are pivoted arms(2S), the outer ends of which straddle the arms (25), pins (29) passingthrough their ends and work in the slots (2G), the pins extending'outward on either side, and coiled springs (30) connect these armstogether.

(31) is a curved base platesuitablyseeured to the inside ofthe casingaround the double valve (17), and are arms extendingtherefrom, theirouter ends having slots (33) curved on a radial line with thepivotalpcints of the arms (28), and screws 0r pins pass through thesenear their center and work in the slots (33), and the movement of thearms is thus limited.

The operation of my improved meter is similar to that 0f the one showninmyfcrmer `patent, the gas entering through the inlet (2), passingthrough the ports (4) in the direction of the arrows around the passageway to the gas chamber (7) on the left hand side of the diaphragm, asshown in Fig. 2, the expansion of the gas forcing the diaphragm to theright and carrying with it the plate (14) and the slotted arms (25), theends of the slots engaging with the pins (29), carrying the spring arms(2S) with it in their movement until the gas chamber (7) is iilled, atwhich time the pins(29) carrying thesprings (30) will have passed astraight line with the pivot pins of the arms (2S) in the double bracket(27), and the tension of the springs will operate to throwthe valve rodto the left, closing the port (18), and cutting off the flow of gas intothe chamber (7), opening the inlet port (19) into the chamber (6), andat the same time opening the outlet port (21) from the chamber (7), andclosing the outlet port (22) from the chamber (G),and the gas in thechamber will then pass out through the pas- IOO sage way (4) and throughthe outlet (3). The same operation is now repeated. The gas en teringinto the chamber (6), slowly filling the same, the diaphragm is carriedtoward the left, and with it the slotted arms (25), until the ends ofthe slots engage with the pins (29), with their springs carrying thearms (28) backward until the pins pass the line of the pivot points ofthe arms (28) in the double bracket (27), when the valve rod with itsvalves will be thrown to the right, bringing thegsprings and connectingparts back to their first position.

What I have obtained by this construction of the spring mechanism forthrowing the valves is one where thereis the least possible friction,the parts of the throwing mechanism being equally divided on either sideof the valve rod, and therefore the friction is equal, and the meter canbe placed in any desired position and work with equally as good results.As will be seen, the only points bearing against the valve stem are ateach end of the sleeve (13), which passes -through the diaphragm andaround the valve stem, and no matter in what position the meter isplaced, it will at all times give the same results, whereas in my formerdevice there was always a good deal of friction on the valve stem andmoving parts, and when placedin some positions the friction was so greatthat the meter would not operate as well as it should. Anotherimprovement over my former meter is that the present device is muchsimpler in construction, more easily put in place, and the various partsare more readily adjusted, and,when in operation, the valves are alwaysheld firmly to their seats and the lnovements of the various parts arealways in the opposite direction from the movement of the valves whenthrown, so that a valve can never be moved prematurely, and as in myformer device the throw is instantaneous In brief, what I haveaccomplished in this device is to retain the meritorious features of myformer device, and to improve and perfect those that were likely toimpair its successful operation.

The registering mechanism (l2) of the present device will be readilyunderstood, as it is similar in construction and operation to that shownin my former patent.

In some cases it may be desirable to form the curved slots 33, in thepivoted arms, 2S, instead of in the brackets, 32, as shown in thedrawings, and in any case where this is done the screws or pins whichform the stops on the arms, 28, would be formedon the ends of thebrackets, 32. This modification, however, would not be a departure fromthe principle of my invention, for the operation of the several partswould remain the same, the positions only being reversed.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secu re by Letters Patent isthe following:-

1. In a gas meter, a casing composed of two equivalent parts, inlet andoutlet connections on opposite sides thereof, a single flexiblediaphragm centrally secured therein, such casing providing a channel forthe passage of the gas through openings in and near the edge of thediaphragm, inlet and outlet valves seated in partitions formed in thehalves of the casing adjacent to the inlet and outlet openings andconnected by a valve rod passing through a central opening in thediaphragm, a lever connected with and operating a registering mechanism,its opposite end engaging with a notched collar, such collar held inposition on a sleeve by a nut, such sleeve surrounding the valve rod andformed integral with a plate on the opposite side of the same, bracketsformed on such plate, slotted arms pivoted to such brackets, spring armspivoted to a bracket rigidly secured to the valve stem, pins passingthrough their outer ends and through the slotted arms, coiled springsconnected to such pins connecting the outer ends of the two spring armstogether, a base plate attached to the inside of the casing and providedwith brackets having curved slots, pins connected to the spring arms andworking in such slots for regulating the movement of the same, suchspring arms operating to throw the valves when their outer ends havepassed a line with their pivotal point, substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. In a gas meter, a casing, an automatic lever mechanism for effectingthe throw of the valves consisting of a plate attached to the diaphragmof the meter, brackets formed thereon, slotted arms pivoted to suchbrackets, spring arms pivoted to a bracket rigidly attached to the valvestem, pins passing through the outer ends of such spring arms andthrough the slotted arms, coiled springsv attached to such pins andconnecting the en ds of such arms together, pins passing through suchspring arms near their center and working in curved slots formed inbrackets at-l tached to the meter casing,the valves of such meteradapted to be thrown by the movement of the spring arms when the outerends ofthe same have been forced past the line of their pivotal point bythe movement of the diaphragm, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a gas meter having a central diaphragm, a plate secured on oneside of the same, a sleeve formed thereon surrounding the valve rod andpassing through the diaphragm, the interior of such sleeve cored out,leaving a bearing on the valve rod at one end, a notched collar securedon such sleeve by a nut, a bifurcated lever engaging such notches andconnected with the registering mechanism, slotted arms pivoted to theplate on the opposite side of the diaphragm, the ends of such slotsadapted to engage with pins passing through the ends of spring arms, theends of such pins connected by coiled springs, the inner ends of suchspring arms pivoted to a block secured on the valve rod, pins passingthrough the spring arms near their center and IOO working in slots forregulating the movement ot` the arms, valves adapted to be thrown by themovement of such arms when the outer ends of the same have been carriedpast a line with their pivotal points, substantially as shown anddescribed.

4:. In a gas meter, a central diaphragm, a plateon one side ot the sameconnected with the mechanism t'or throwing the valves, a central sleeveformed on such plate surrounding the valve rod and passing through suchdiaphragm, the interior of such sleeve cored out, leaving a bearing atone end on the valve rod, a notched collar retained on the opposite endof such sleeve by means of a nut having bearings on the valve rod, abifurcated lever connected with such notched collar and with theregistering mechanism, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a gas meter, a valve rod connecting inlet and outlet valves, abracket rigidly attached to such valve rod, with arms pivoted thereto,pins passing through their outei` ends and connected by springs, aflexible diaphragm through which the valve rod passes, and mechanismconnecting the diaphragm to the outer ends of the pivoted arms, wherebythe diaphragm operates to force the outer ends of such arms past thecenter of their pivotal point, thereby actuating the valve rod and itsvalves alternately in opposite directions, suhstantially as shown anddescribed.

6. In a gas meter, a casing composed of two equivalent parts, inlet andoutlet openings on opposite sides thereof, a ilexible diaphragmcentrally secured in such casing forming gas chambers on opposite sidesof such diaphragm, a channel for the passage ot' gas through openings inand near the edge of the diaphragm, inlet and outlet valves seated inpartitions formed'in the halves of the casing adjacent to the inlet andoutlet openings, and connected by a valve rod passing through a centralopening in the diaphragm, aregistering mechanism connected to the outletside operated by the movement of the diaphragm, a plate centrallysecured to the diaphragm and adapted to be carried forward by itsmovement, such plate provided with slotted arms for receiving the endsof jointed levers rigidly secured to the valve rod, the ends of suchlevers connected by springs for completing the throw of the valve rodinaugurated by the movement of the diaphragm, substantially as shown anddescribed.

'7. In a gas meter, a casing composed ot two substantially equivalentparts, inlet and outlet openings on opposite sides thereof, a ieXiblediaphragm centrally secured therein and dividing the casing into twoopposite gas chambers, a channel formed through openings in or near theedge of the diaphragm for permitting the passage of the gas, inlet andoutlet valves seated in partitions adjacent to the inlet and outletopenings, and connected by a valve rod passing centrally through thediaphragm, registering mechanism on the outlet side connected to andoperated by the movement of the diaphragm, a plate with bracketsconnected to the diaphragm on the inlet side, a pair of jointed leversrigidly connected to the valve rod, their ends pivoted in slotted armssecured to such bracket plate and connected diametrically across bysuitable springs, whereby the movement ot the valves inaugurated by thatof the diaphragm will be automatically completed by the tension of thesprings when the outer ends of the jointed levers have passed thecentral line ot their pivotal points, all combined substantially asshown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of April,1892.

JAMES B. KNICKERBOCKER.

Witnesses:

I-I. D. NEALY, C. B. GRIFFITH.

